Thursday

Feb 7, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Well Rochester, get ready, a truly rockin', movin' and shockin' show is coming your way. "The Vagina Monologues," a Back Alley Productions production, just completed its run at Seacoast Repertory Theatre and is set to open for two shows at the Rochester Opera House. — Mark your calendars.

Well Rochester, get ready, a truly rockin', movin' and shockin' show is coming your way. "The Vagina Monologues," a Back Alley Productions production, just completed its run at Seacoast Repertory Theatre and is set to open for two shows at the Rochester Opera House. — Mark your calendars.

Not only does this event benefit the Rochester branch of A Safe Place, but it's also a fine work of theater that moves through hilarious, disturbing, thoughtful, cringe-worthy and a gamut of other emotions and reactions.

The title is your guide. This is about women, and yes one aspect of their anatomy, and all the salacious, disturbing, violent, political and funny related issues.

All are addressed in 12 monologues, and between many by the V-Day Sextet, six women who introduce segments or pertinent information.

Here's the obligatory warning, this is most certainly adult material, and if you're sensitive about anatomy, violence, sex, harsh words, etc. etc., you might want to avoid this.

Then again maybe not.

There is nothing gratuitous about "The Vagina Monologues'" words or concepts regardless of how distressing, distasteful or irreverent they may be perceived. "The Vagina Monologues," its script drawn from first-person accounts, is a right place to listen to these issues and either establish or reaffirm your stance regarding them. There are few plays that better demonstrate the value of using language deemed vulgar or addressing subjects in this manner. There's a lot to plumb beyond its surface.

Some of the finest theater talent on the Seacoast donated their time to this event, on and off the stage. And it shows. The performances are quite good to outstanding. Every one of the monologues hits its mark — a few are grand slams.

The tone is well set from the start with Whitney Smith's deft performance of "Hair." Smith carries herself with the demeanor of a friend freely sharing — you like her. The monologue is a mix of melancholy, disturbing and humor.

All subsequent segments are truly lovely. As it is with Smith's, each feels like a conversation with a friend. But still there are standouts.

Jennifer Batchelder brings the house down with "My Angry Vagina." Everything about her is outstanding, her confident air, tinged with sass and swagger. Every move and look is spot on. Once again she demonstrates a gift for comedy.

"Rescue" the sole male monologue, impeccably performed by CJ Lewis, was a really smart addition by director Joi Smith. It adds elements often lacking; the domino effect of violence, and a male voice in support of women. It's a touching piece all the more moving for Lewis' earnest and subtly nuanced performance.

Danica Carlson gives a strong, colored performance in "Because He Liked to Look At It," as does Christine Dulong in "Reclaiming X*%^," who again underscores her comedic chops.

There's nothing easy about delivering the "moan scene" in "The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy," but Sarah Duclos throws it off as if it were the most natural thing to do — before hundreds of people.

And so it continues, each woman in turn brings difficult material to life, whether an uncommon subject or a painful one, and does so with touching humanity. All deserve more comment than space allows. Congratulations to Susan Turner, Jacquelyn Benson, Erin Rooney, Laurie Torosian, Carly Souza, and Nicole Pilotte — each and everyone offers strong, moving performances. Kudos also to the Sextet, Jasmin Hunter, Angelina MacDonald, Erin Rooney, Cate Smith, Debbie Verdicchio and Genevieve Witman.

When the piece opens in Rochester there will be a trade-off of four performers, so there's something new even for those who experienced it in Portsmouth.

Director Smith does a great job with her actors. Clearly she built trust, there's no other way to derive such consistently earnest and honest performances. The stark staging and simple blocking well served the piece.

The production's drawback is length. The multiple curtain addresses, the addition of the Sextets, plus monologues put it at two hours without break. An intermission is all that's required.

"The Vagina Monologues" is a difficult play, it's too brash and crude for some tastes, too piercing for others, certainly disturbingly painful at times for most. It is theater with an agenda, and perhaps one of the better opportunities for the sensitive viewer to buck up, allow themselves to be uncomfortable, and give thought to the surface and deeper story. — Certainly the quality of this production makes it a great time to give it a go.

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